Louisiana. Governor (1769-1770 : O'Reilly)

Irish general in the service of the Spanish crown, and governor of the province of Louisiana from 1769-1770.

O'Reilly was sent to Louisiana in 1768 by Charles III to quash a rebellion against the Spanish commandant Antonio de Ulloa by French colonists in New Orleans. The French settlers were angry that France had ceded New Orleans and parts of Louisiana west of the Mississippi to Spain in 1762. O'Reilly easily took New Orleans and later, after personally travelling through the province and listening to the settlers' complaints, drew up regulations for distributing and surveying land grants; and established a more efficient and economical administration of Spanish rule throughout the province.

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